title: Association of plasma visfatin with hepatic and systemic inflammation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Visfatin is a proinflammatory and insulin-mimetic adipokine contributing to whole body glucose and lipid metabolism. Studies to date are conflicting regarding the relationship between visfatin and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship of circulating visfatin with NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 114 NAFLD patients and 60 healthy non-diabetic controls. Plasma visfatin, adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured by ELISA. High sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were measured by immunoturbidimetric fixed rate method. Insulin sensitivity determined by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TNF-α, IL-6 and hsCRP levels were higher and, Adiponectin levels were lower in NAFLD group when compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001, for all). However, no difference was found regarding to visfatin levels between two groups. Different histologic subgroups of NAFLD had a significantly higher TNF-α, IL-6 and hsCRP, and lower adiponectin levels than those with controls (p < 0.001, for all). On the other hand, no statistically significant difference was found regarding to visfatin levels among different histologic groups. Visfatin was found to be negatively correlated with TNF-α (r = -0.236, p = 0.011) in NAFLD group. However, no association was found between visfatin and histological findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show that plasma visfatin levels are not altered in the early stages of NAFLD. However, it is inversely associated with TNF-α. These findings suggest a role for visfatin in protection against liver injury in this widespread disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. zhgenc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Genc
authors.forename: Teoman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dogru
authors.forename: Muammer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tapan
authors.forename: Cemal Nuri
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ercin
authors.forename: Cengizhan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Acikel
authors.forename: Yildirim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karslioglu
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagci
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human